< Back UNIONBANK CTO HENRY AGUDA UnionBank of the Philippines’ Henry Aguda believes in the power of technology—and sets the trend in digital banking to help MSMEs bounce back from a crippling economic crisis BY MARIEL ABANES PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL SORIANO Gone are the days when banking involves a personal visit to a physical branch. These days, thanks to modern-day technology, financial transactions are now accessible through your fingertips—literally. While physically going to bank branches is still an option, the creation of websites and apps have made our lives easier and more convenient, especially with the current situation around the world. The global pandemic has left us with no choice but to shelter in place safely—and hopefully not for too long. Good thing technology is evolving with the times, meeting the ever-changing demands of the “new normal.” Chief Technology and Operations Officer (CTOO) and Chief Transformation Officer (CTO) of UnionBank of the Philippines Henry Aguda takes full advantage of all the perks technology has to offer. Championing his advocacy of digital inclusion, this leader is paving the way for the future of digital banking and beyond. 𝐀 𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 Almost five years ago, Aguda returned to the Philippines from Los Angeles upon receiving an invitation to work for UnionBank. His primary role: to convert the bank’s platforms to cyberspace. He accepted, and since then, this digital genius has been lending his knowledge and expertise on the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) space to further advance the company’s online presence, helping it to become more digitallyoriented and agile. His expertise was sought not to just simply “update” infrastructure, but also revamp the organization’s culture and business model. To date, UnionBank has garnered other accolades like the Best Digital Finance Ecosystem Initiative, Application or Programme for ‘Eonbank’s Financial Marketplace’ and Mortgage Product of the Year at The Asian Banker Philippine Awards in 2019. In 2020, UnionBank was also named as the Best Digital Bank by The Digital Banker and the International Finance Awards. The Banker also named UnionBank as the 2020 Bank of the Year Philippines. The “Best Digital Bank” has become synonymous to the esteemed organization. “When you refer to digital banking excellence, it’s UnionBank that they talk about—from branch to app to online to all the other services that we offer,” Aguda says. “We really changed the branch banking concept,” he adds. “UnionBank is one of the top financial branches in the world that’s been recognized for being innovative and transformative. We’re the only Philippine bank that’s there, so we’re carrying the Philipine flag. We’re very proud of that,” he shares. From launching their state-of-theart robot called “Eve” who can take care of your transactions, to adapting an automated account enrollment via the app, to being one of the first banks to perform payments online, UnionBank has succeeded in revolutionizing the landscape finance industry. A CULTURE SHIFT But it isn’t just consumers who felt the leverage of going digital with UnionBank. Henry admits that, in his role as CTO, Senior Executive Vice President, and CTOO of the company, he had to create a shift in the culture of the organization, too. “There were a lot of traditions and rules, and the biggest challenge is winning their hearts and minds. They have to trust that if we go digital, they will not lose their jobs—it will actually improve their careers and we will not leave them behind,” the CTO explains. “And since we gave that psychological safety to our people, they’ve been with us on this journey.” With their staff onboard and equipped to face the move, Henry and his team worked on modifying hardware and software systems, as well as the processes involved in upgrading them. This has turned into their competitive advantage, which no other bank has been able to duplicate. Fast forward to 2020 and the lockdown happened. Instead of seeing this troubling situation as a detriment, it validated and affirmed UnionBank’s choice in going full-scale in the digital world. “Most of the initiatives that we deployed last year, we had them already since 2018. So when the pandemic happened, our people were immediately ready to work from home because most of our systems were automated and the app immediately worked,” Aguda relates. From their past records of 2,000 branch visitors per month, they now reach a whopping 2,000 app users per day—without hassle on both the consumer and the bank’s end. We can credit this powerful shift to Aguda’s dynamic leadership. He describes his style as “very much situational.” When the situation calls for him to take on the reins and be decisive, Aguda plays this role well. “When we started the transformation, I still needed to increase awareness on methodologies and processes that people will have to adapt to. But as soon as I see the organization embracing the methods and technologies that I’ve already advocated, I tend to pull back and be less controlling,” he points out. “So right now, I’m more of a coach and a mentor to a lot of the executives and junior officers of the bank. I encourage them to experiment and to make mistakes— not intentionally—that they hopefully can learn from. That’s the type of leadership that is necessary. It’s not one size fits all.” “Mayroon kaming concept of ‘ubuntu’,” Aguda further adds. Ubuntu, a South African term which translates to “teamwork” or bayanihan, as Henry explains, keeps the bonds tied within the organization. The CTO labels it as a special culture, which shapes the working relationship of everyone in their teams. ADAPTING TO THE PANDEMIC It’s safe to say that UnionBank switched to the “new normal” with ease. And since they are operating at full capacity, the company arranged new and efficient efforts to adapt to the needs of the country and its people during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the beginning of lockdown up to now, their branches are open with full banking services and ATMs available to support customers’ liquidity needs. They launched “Bank on Wheels” to support areas with large transaction requirements. UnionBank also assisted in the disbursement of the Department of Social Welfare & Development’s (DSWD) social amelioration program (SAP) cash assistance to 700,000 beneficiaries. Partner local government units (LGUs) were also supported in the distribution of cash or loan proceeds to their constituents. All these services were given for free, with the belief that their efforts will aid in the revitalization of the economy. Apart from supporting government efforts, their digital platforms also provided access to payments, lending, and marketplaces to support the transaction needs of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Furthermore, Henry spearheaded Bonds.ph , together with the Philippine Digital Asset Exchange (PDAX) with digital KYC, to enable the public to conveniently invest while helping the country recover. It’s the first app-based, blockchain-enabled distribution of Retail Sovereign Treasury Bonds in Asia. Of course, UnionBank continuously innovates with its app, creating an easy and hassle-free experience for every consumer, coupled with their active campaign to educate consumers about cyber criminals. “That’s our advocacy, to teach the public that there are criminals out there who might steal your password, your username, and your credit card credentials. We’re working closely with the authorities to catch these criminals, because what they’re doing is economic sabotage.” THE GAME-CHANGER Deep in his heart, this passionate man thrives in bringing digital inclusion to every platform he works on. Apart from his roles in UnionBank, Aguda holds several other titles, such as Chairman of UBX Philippines, the fintech spin-off of the bank; lecturer at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Technology Management Center; Board Member of Philippine Clearing House Corporation (PCHC); associate member of Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD); member of the Financial Executives of the Philippines (FINEX); and member of the Board of Trustees of Philippine Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV). His participation in all of these allows him to engage with more people to increase awareness in his advocacy. He does so with UnionBank. “I try to align the efforts of the bank with my personal advocacy for digital inclusion,” he says. “We just have to get as many people in the digital space right now.” These responsibilities may seem like a lot for a single person to take on, but Aguda makes it all happen thanks to good collaborators. Again, he refers to “ubuntu.” “I rely on trustworthy and effective teammates to get the word out and the job done.” For instance, the bank showed support in his endeavor by deploying people to several government agencies to help their IT organizations in developing better apps. There are also academic institutions who tap him to talk about digital transformation, which widens information dissemination on the topic. And he won’t get tired of laying the cards in front of everyone for as long as he can. “My whole life has been devoted to digital inclusion,” Aguda puts it simply. It’s the legacy he wishes to leave behind—to get as many people aboard the digital space. “I really believe that digital is the great equalizer. For as long as everybody has access to it, they have access to information. And information is power. In that sense, I aim to push the needle in terms of digital inclusion in the Philippines,” Aguda ends.

< Back A Primer on the Issues BY ATTY. JOSE MARIA B. SANTOS AND ATTY. KATRINA CRISTA M. ARTIAGA Election season has always been an exciting time for any country. In the Philippines, however, the stakes seem higher, and the atmosphere grows more intense with each moment we come closer to election day. For the candidates, glory awaits those who win, while political persecution is expected to follow those who lose. The atmosphere is not less interesting for the electorate as election season often brings out the best and sometimes the worst in the voting population. A diverse political landscape this 2022 has certainly led to colorful, if not toxic, political discourse between friends and strangers alike. This article hopes to shed light on some of the legal issues which have been raised against certain candidates in the upcoming 2022 national elections. DISQUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES In every election season, petitions for disqualification of candidates are filed left and right. A petition for disqualification may be filed by any individual of voting age, or duly registered political party, organization or collation of political parties1, who believe that a candidate should not be one of the choices in the upcoming elections. The legal basis for disqualification is found in Section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code which provides that “any person who… has been sentenced by final judgment… for any offense for which he has been sentenced to a penalty of more than eighteen (18) months or for a crime involving moral turpitude, shall be disqualified to be a candidate and to hold any office, unless he has been given plenary pardon or granted amnesty.” While there are several grounds for disqualification, we shall focus our discussion on disqualification based on a candidate having been sentenced by final judgment for a crime involving moral turpitude. This is for readers to understand what exactly is meant by the term “moral turpitude” and how it may affect the upcoming elections and even beyond. WHAT IS MORAL TURPITUDE? Moral turpitude has been defined to mean everything which is done contrary to justice, modesty, or good morals; an act of baseness, vileness or depravity in the private and social duties which a man owes his fellowmen, or to society in general, contrary to justice, honesty, modesty or good morals2. Through the years, there has been a noticeable shift in the Supreme Court’s appreciation of what constitutes a crime involving moral turpitude. In a 1979 decision3, the Supreme Court held that “moral turpitude implies something immoral in itself, regardless of the fact that it is punishable by law or not. It must not merely be mala prohibita, but the act itself must be inherently immoral. The doing of the act itself, and not its prohibition by statute fixes the moral turpitude. Moral turpitude does not, however, include such acts as are not of themselves immoral but whose illegality lies in their being positively prohibited.” Essentially, the Supreme Court’s basis for determining moral turpitude was whether the crime was mala in se or mala prohibita. However, in later cases, the Supreme Court re-assessed its previous decision and ruled that the question of what constitutes moral turpitude cannot be solely determined by classifying the act as being either mala in se or mala prohibita. The Supreme Court went on to explain that there are crimes which are mala in se and yet rarely involve moral turpitude and there are crimes which involve moral turpitude and are mala prohibita only4. The Supreme Court thus declared that the meaning of moral turpitude should ultimately be left to sound judicial discretion depending on the circumstances of each case5. Given the foregoing, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) must be guided by recent Supreme Court decisions to resolve petitions for disqualification based on a candidate’s conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude. Even then, whatever the COMELEC decides on may still be subject to further review and ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court. MALA IN SE AND MALA PROHIBITA CRIMES In the previous section, we discussed that crimes involving moral turpitude have been determined based on their classification as either a mala in se or a mala prohibita crime. But what do these concepts mean? Acts mala in se are those that are inherently wrong or immoral, while acts mala prohibita are those not inherently wrong but are punishable because a law forbids their commission. In mala in se, intent governs; while in mala prohibita the only inquiry is whether the law was violated6. In mala prohibita, when an act is illegal, the intent of the offender is immaterial7. An example of a mala in se crime is murder under the Revised Penal Code, while an instance of mala prohibita is carnapping under the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016. A lot of people assume that crimes under the Revised Penal Code are mala in se, while those under special penal laws are automatically mala prohibita. This is inaccurate. The Supreme Court has already ruled that plunder, which is a crime under a special penal law, is a heinous offense which makes it mala in se8. The Court has likewise also ruled that technical malversation under the Revised Penal Code is a mala prohibita crime9. TAX MATTERS Perhaps the most often-quoted principle in taxation law is that taxes are the lifeblood of the government. Thus, taxes must be collected without unnecessary hindrance10. As a result, when a taxpayer refuses to pay his/her taxes or fails to file his/her annual Income Tax Return (ITR), there are consequences for its violation under the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC). Indeed, our government has all the resources to run after erring taxpayers if it wanted to, so long as due process and proper procedure are followed. ESTATE TAX Estate tax is a type of national internal revenue tax that is not commonly heard of by ordinary individuals. By definition, estate tax is a tax charged on the privilege of transmitting property upon the death of an individual. It is not a tax on an individual because the owner of the estate is already deceased. The responsibility, therefore, of paying estate tax falls on the executor, administrator or the legal heirs of the deceased upon the filing of the estate tax return11. Failure of any of these individuals to pay the estate tax makes them criminally liable under Section 255 of the NIRC. Some pundits have opined that if one has unpaid taxes then his wealth could never be “ill-gotten.” In other words, unpaid taxes mean legal sources of income. This argument is wrong and baseless. In taxation law, income derived from whatever source12, whether legal or illegal, forms part of a taxpayer’s gross income and is thus taxable. This means that ill-gotten wealth, once discovered as being under a claim of ownership by an erring taxpayer, is always taxable. ENFORCEMENT AND COLLECTION The unfortunate reality, however, is that several erring taxpayers, particularly those with the right connections and deep pockets, have faced minimal consequences for their actions. On this point, several people have questioned why the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the government agency primarily charged with assessing and collecting taxes, has been inefficient in running after erring taxpayers, particularly those with political influence. At the outset, the BIR should not shoulder this heavy burden alone. It must be pointed out that the BIR is not wholly equipped with the proper legal authority and resources to directly run after every erring taxpayer. The BIR does not even have the power to issue warrants of arrest13, so it cannot, on its own whims, arrest any person who fails to pay their taxes. At most, the BIR can only file criminal complaints against erring taxpayers before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for their violations of the NIRC. The DOJ can then prosecute the case before the appropriate court. All in all, the BIR and the DOJ, along with the courts, have to work hand-in-hand in running after taxpayers who have been remiss in their duties in paying taxes. It is thus imperative for the government to apply the law equally to all, so as to avoid criticisms from the public that they have promised to serve. RELEVANCE TO THE 2022 ELECTIONS The foregoing concepts have been at the forefront of the discussion surrounding the 2022 national elections. These issues have hounded one presidential candidate who was previously convicted for non filing of his ITR which was used by several parties to file a petition for disqualification with the COMELEC. These petitions alleged that non-filing of an ITR is a crime of moral turpitude which should disqualify one from running as president. The COMELEC dismissed several of these petitions for disqualification and ruled that non-filing of one’s ITR is not considered mala in se and is therefore not a crime involving moral turpitude that could disqualify a presidential candidate. The COMELEC First Division’s decision cited the 1979 case of Zari v. Flores14 which held that “moral turpitude implies something immoral in itself, regardless of the fact that it is punishable by law or not. It must not merely be mala prohibita, but the act itself must be inherently immoral.” Those who seek a reversal of the COMELEC decision might refer to the more recent case of ABS-CBN Corporation v. Gozon15, where the Supreme Court held that the determination of whether a crime involves moral turpitude cannot be limited to the question of whether the crime is mala in se or mala prohibita. At any rate, the question of which crimes involve moral turpitude depends on the facts of each case and is ultimately for the Supreme Court to determine16. 1. Part V, Rule 25, COMELEC Rules of Procedure. 2. International Rice Research Institute v. National Labor Relations Commission, G.R. No. 97239, 12 May 1993. 3. Zari v. Flores, A.M. No. (2170-MC) P-1356, 21 November 1979. 4. International Rice Research Institute v. National Labor Relations Commission, G.R. No. 97239, 12 May 1993. 5. Ibid. 6. Calleja v. Executive Secretary, G.R. Nos. 252578, 07 December 2021. 7. Department of Finance-Revenue Integrity Protection Service v. Enerio, G.R. No. 238630, 12 May 2021. 8. Estrada v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 148560, 19 November 2001. 9. Ysidoro v. People, G.R. No. 192330, 14 November 2012. 10. Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Algue, Inc., G.R. No. L-28896, 17 February 1988. 11. Title III, Chapter 1, Sec. 91(A), National Internal Revenue Code. 12. Section 32(A), National Internal Revenue Code. 13. Title I, National Internal Revenue Code. 14. A.M. No. (2170-MC) P-1356, 21 November 1979. 15. G.R. No. 195956, 11 March 2015. 16. Dela Torre v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 121592, 5 July 1996. Atty. Jose Maria B. Santos joined GSE Law Firm’s Litigation, Labor, and Immigration Practice Groups in June 2019. In law school, he interned at ACCRA Law, Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los Angeles Law, and Garay Law Office. Santos previously worked as an associate at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez and Protacio Law Firm. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Management from the De Lasalle University. Santos was admitted to the Bar in 2018. Katrina Artiaga is a part of GSE Law Firm’s Litigation and Labor Practice Group. She graduated with a degree in Journalism in 2017 at the University of the Philippines, and Juris Doctor in 2021 from the same university. She recently passed the 2020/21 Bar Examinations. DOWNLOAD FULL ISSUE HERE FOR FREE

< Back A NOVEL WAY OF LEADERSHIP By James Steven Batucan PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREW BASTES Despite being a new member of the House of Representatives, Congressman Cheeno Miguel Almario takes satisfaction in the work he has been performing. The SIM Card Law, according to one of its main proponents, will help the Philippines’ standards in information technology catch up with those of the rest of the world. Filipinos can now hope to be protected from crimes perpetrated through the use of unregulated subscriber identity module (SIM) cards as legislators made way for the passage of Republic Act (RA) 11934, or the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act. Congressman Cheeno Miguel Almario of the 2nd District of Davao Oriental is new to the House of Representatives, but he prides himself in what he has been doing, especially since he is one of the principal authors of the abovementioned law. RA 11934 mandates that direct sellers and telecommunications companies (telcos) demand legitimate identification documents before selling SIM cards. Existing SIM card holders must register with their respective telcos within a specific time or face the consequence of having their SIM cards deactivated. Telecommunications companies are required to maintain records of subscriber SIM cards. They are required to submit a list of all nationwide authorized dealers and agents quarterly to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). Athough received positively by many, the law raises concerns among human rights advocacy groups. Leaders of such groups say that although they understand the concerns about online scams, they are worried that the data privacy of citizens will be compromised, as SIM card registration entails sharing private information. Almario understands the privacy concerns of these progressive organizations. According to him, however, the government prioritizes the safety of its citizens. “There are provisions of the law that protect citizens and their private information from being used without their consent,” he guarantees, adding that the National Privacy Commission’s (NPC) input was taken into account to further protect the privacy of citizens. As one of the law’s principal authors, Almario believes that the SIM Card Registration Act addresses the security risk posed by unknown phone numbers in the current system. “We can also see that in the current setup, some SIM cards are used as numbers to extract information from unsuspecting citizens,” he laments. In other nations, especially in developed countries, the registration of a citizen’s SIM card with his or her national ID has historically reduced the use of fraudulent numbers for criminal or fraudulent acts, Almario says. After the full implementation of the law, the government and its law enforcement agencies will be able to immediately determine to whom or what entity any numbers used in criminal or fraudulent activity is registered. Along with Almario, House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Representatives Sandro Marcos, Jude Acidre, and Yedda Romualdez are some of the principal authors of the law. He considers it as a major contribution to the Philippine government’s effort to protect citizens from fraudulent acts perpetrated through phone calls and text messages. He hopes that the 105 other bills he has authored and co-authored will similarly be enacted soon. As someone who grew up fascinated by the wonders of technology since the early days of Windows 95 and 98, Almario advocates for and believes that the growth of technology is something that the Philippines needs. ACHIEVEMENTS IN PUBLIC SERVICE The 30-year-old congressman is currently the vice chairman of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Committee in the Lower House, and he advocates raising the Philippines’ standards to be at par with those of the rest of the world. He thinks that the communication sector, in particular, can use information technology to bring people who are apart closer together. “We were able to see this in full swing during the pandemic, wherein people would resort to video calls, and students would learn through Zoom and [other platforms]. There was no more apt time to use technology than during the height of the pandemic from when students had purely online classes, up to when schools transitioned to blended learning. It is important to bring the Philippines up to world standards [in the field of telecommunications] as it will really help improve the quality of life of Filipinos. That’s what we’re trying to do now,” he adds. Almario is extremely proud of his accomplishments from the time when he was still a councilor in the City of Mati, in addition to the bills and programs that he has filed in Congress. One of them is the expanded Asenso Sa Edukasyon Scholarship Program, an ordinance he authored that shows how inventive laws can be used to benefit specific beneficiary groups or sectors. In the above program, the local government gives an additional amount of scholarship assistance to students who enroll in courses whose graduates could help fill up human resource requirements for specific localities. “For example, if you are lacking in engineers in your city, then we add an additional scholarship fund for students taking engineering courses so that at least it fills the void [caused by a mismatch between available manpower and job openings]. So that was one of my proudest moments in public service as a legislator,” he adds, as he recalls the project. Almario believes that the Asenso Sa Edukasyon Scholarship Program that they institutionalized through an ordinance is something that, if replicated by other local government units, would be very beneficial because different areas can specialize in different fields, depending on employment opportunities. “Specific to the area, you may have people that can specialize in engineering, nursing, medicine, and other professions. If that particular ordinance is replicated, then we would have very good employment rates all across the nation,” he adds. He says that something that started on a small scale, if replicated nationwide and hopefully becomes successful in other localities as well, would ultimately be very beneficial to the whole country. INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP Almario describes himself as having a “new type” of leadership style as a legislator. He believes that this may sound vague because we are used to a traditional set of values when it comes to politics and leadership, but his kind attempts to provide an inclusive one. A salient part of this is being part of the solution, not just using the solution. On a typical day, he would be with his staff and also talk to people on the streets. The congressman also likes being in the moment, which is something he was used to doing when he was still a private citizen and which he later brought to his job as a congressman. Almario shares that he likes to be with the people, to know first-hand how things are, how people feel, so that he could fine-tune the services he offers in response to what they need. It is through this that he is able to interact with people who need the help of the government, to be able to help them directly, and to see the benefits of projects he has initiated. On the other hand, he finds each day at the office as a memorable experience because that’s where he is also able to gauge what public service really means; how rewarding it is. Challenges are part of the congressman’s daily life, but he considers politics a major problem. For him, public service is different from politics because anyone can have the opportunity to serve, but not everyone can give the kind of public service that the people need. He believes that if you put politics into public service, things become less dynamic. “Resistance will arise, regardless of how good a program’s objective is, no matter how good your intentions are. For example, no matter how much I would want a program to benefit students deserving of scholarships to be implemented, when other politicians would rather channel resources to other projects, that becomes disappointing and challenging. I welcome such challenges, nonetheless, as they also help me find creative ways to implement the programs that I wish to bring forth to our constituency,” adds the congressman. LEGACY IN THE MAKING Almario comes from a prominent political family that has produced leaders for generations. His grandmother, Thelma Z. Almario, served the people for a total of 34 years as mayor of Mati, vice governor of Davao Oriental, and congresswoman of the 2nd District of Davao Oriental. His father, Joel Mayo Z. Almario, is a former vice governor of Davao Oriental and a former congressman with over 24 years of public service experience. “Growing up, I was exposed to my dad’s work because he would involve the family in outreach programs. For example, if the congressional district had a feeding program, we would be the ones to scoop the food and give it to the people.” Almario also recalls going around town with his father, with his dad pointing out projects he had spearheaded and explaining how these benefit the people. This kind of experience inspired him to try to reach out to the people. The kind of exposure he had early on prepared Almario for what he had to face later on as a member of a political family, which includes interacting with the people and getting to know their concerns and needs. This also prepared him for the adjustments he had to make from time to time. “Coming from a political family also comes with so much pressure because people expect you to live up to the achievements of and to follow the path that your predecessors laid out for you,” says Almario. With deep ancestral roots, Almario is also related by blood to the late Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez, who served as the Philippines’ second-highest elected official from 1961 to 1965. “I learned that the mother’s side of my grandfather is Pelaez; apparently, we are directly related to the former vice president. It ’s a lineage I can be proud of,” he adds. Although he descends from a prominent political family, he never intended to enter public service. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing Management degree from Far Eastern University, he joined Magic, Inc. as training director, where he proved his mettle as a leader. Almario’s father would visit him almost every day after his work shift and try to persuade him to run for public office and use his leadership abilities to help more people. His father advised him to consider it as a way to express gratitude to the people for everything they have done for them, as well as for the support and loyalty they have shown. He initially refused the offer, but eventually gave in to the call of duty. Almario ran for office as Mati City councilor in 2019 and ultimately captured the people’s votes just as he had previously captured their hearts. He later entered and won the race to represent Davao Oriental’s 2nd District in Congress. “Four years later, here we are. I started out in 2019 and then I slowly grew to like what I was doing. As city councilor, there were things that I liked, things that were rewarding. I grew to love the job, so I stayed on in the field of public service,” he recalls. ALMARIO’S CREDO Almario believes that life is short, but one’s political life is even shorter. As a congressman, one has only three years to render service before running for re-election or election to another position. Hence, everything is temporary in nature, which means that the things that he does, the projects that he launches, and the programs that they try to institutionalize are also temporary as well. So he is making the most out of the opportunity to serve the people of the 2nd District of Davao Oriental. The neophyte congressman is firm in his conviction that he is doing the right thing as a public servant, and does not regret anything, including leaving the corporate world to serve the people. According to him, what is most important is the constituency that he serves, as they don’t seem to see how really important they are to him and his fellow public servants. Because without a constituency, there is no leader either. “You look at what’s best to do next so at least you can also improve your life and the lives of others. It is more about just being kind; being a neighbor to others. It really boils down to that simple idea. When everybody keeps that in mind and lives by it, then everything will eventually be better for everyone. It may be simple, it may be cliché, but it is really what’s needed,” Almario adds. Asked about his message to his constituents, Almario answers with his tagline: “Ang inyong amigo sa tanan maging cheeno ka man (Cheeno is your friend regardless of who you are).” Buy magazine here

< Back Heralding Breakthroughs In Congress BY JULIA GARCIA LA UNION 1ST DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FRANCISCO PAOLO P. ORTEGA V EMPHASIZES THE IMPACT OF A NEW BREED OF LEADERS IN CONGRESS. Coming from a lineage of public servants, La Union 1st District Representative Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V had the invaluable opportunity to witness the profound evolution in the approach and engagement of politicians from previous generations to the present day. “When I was younger, our family house served as the [informal] office of the congressman, barangay chairman, and mayor. People would bring letters to talk to them,” Ortega recalls. Ortega’s father, Pablo C. Ortega, was the congressman of La Union’s 1st District from 2016 to 2022 and is an incumbent councilor in the City of San Fernando, La Union. The younger Ortega says that unlike his father, he is more outspoken and at ease when delivering speeches. While his father’s work always put premium on his extraordinary personal relationships with his constituents. Differences aside, the young congressman fused the best parts of his father’s work ethic and attitude toward public service with other learnings he’s been gaining from his fellow leaders. As an example, while people used to send formal letters to his office, Ortega shares that nowadays, they simply chat with him directly on Messenger to ask for assistance. Adjustments are necessary to make the congressman’s office accessible for individuals. While old practices in politics are still helpful, he adds, it’s also best to infuse modern technologies and perspectives to maintain a fresh take on governance. “Mixing the traditional style [of serving] with the modern approach is my style. Hardly anything has changed in the country’s politics since then, things just became faster now with the help of technology— improving our office’s responsiveness helps build trust with our constituents,” Ortega adds. Mixing the traditional style [of serving] with the modern approach is my style. Public service is still true to its core, but it is a lot faster since then, things just became faster now with the help of technology— improving our office’s responsiveness helps build trust with our constituents. DESTINED TO SERVE “Growing up, I wanted a different path. It was a dream for a lot of people to work and live abroad. I longed for a more Westernized way of living, the kind you see in movies. Pero siguro may guhit talaga ‘yung palad (but maybe our fates are written on the palm of our hands). Destiny will still intervene,” Ortega shares about the beginning of his political journey. He studied Marketing Communications at San Beda University because this was one of the few courses offered to student-athletes. After graduating, Ortega was able to practice his profession at San Miguel Corporation as a salesman for a few months, and then for two years as a salesman and marketing officer at the Coca-Cola Company. After his brief experience in the corporate world, Ortega entered politics as a barangay kagawad. He shares that when he was playing basketball one day, he was called and urged to run for barangay kagawad because his political party at that time only had six barangay kagawad candidates and they needed one more. Although it seemed like an unexpected opportunity, Ortega admits that he enjoyed his job as a barangay kagawad. This allowed him to have a grassroots perspective and better gauge of what’s needed for the people. From there, he served as a councilor from 2010 to 2019 and became an ex-officio provincial board member for one term, and another term as an elected board member before running for the position of congressman. While it is inevitable to acknowledge that he is a member of a long-standing political clan in La Union, Ortega proudly says that his father kept his hands off his decision to enter politics. So the young Ortega claims that all of this is a result of his hard work, “I really studied the science of politics, little by little, either in school or by myself.” CHANGING THE LEARNING SYSTEM When Ortega won as councilor, that was also the period when the election for Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) was put on hold because it was undergoing some reform. Ortega, who was 21 years old at that time, projected himself as an SK representative and focused on sports and education, but added twists to make the programs more beneficial. For education, Ortega supported school clubs where the youth developed their skills in language, public speaking, and debates. If the students need to enhance their English language, for example, that’s where his help comes in. When it comes to scholarships, he believes that they should be sustainable. “Nagbigay ka nga ng scholarship one time lang tapos wala na, di mo na na-track kung saan na nagpunta ‘yung estudyante (You provide a one-time scholarship, [but] then nothing came of it [because] you were not able to track the progress of the student),” Ortega says. So, when it comes to their programs, they make sure that they support a student from grade school until he reaches the jobhunting period. Ortega admits that sports and education are special for him because “education is the key to rising above poverty.” He believes sports and education are interconnected, having personally experienced securing a scholarship through sports during his student years. “They are really my personal advocacy, they’re my soft spot because that’s where I came from. When I got into sports, I became disclipined to maintain my scholarship,” Ortega adds, that sports can open doors to other opportunities beyond education for individuals. Usually, only those who score high in their classes are given the opportunity to avail of scholarships or financial support. According to Ortega, those who are good at sports are usually cast aside but he argues that they are equally deserving of scholarships. This is one of the highlights of Ortega’s advocacy, another improvement on the usual system. As of the interview, Ortega shares that he is also working on building two sports complexes. One is for the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), La Union’s public university, and another for the entire province. The sports complex for DMMMSU already has an initial budget of Php11 million for its site development and is targeted for completion within Ortega’s first term. Meanwhile, the sports complex for the province is still waiting for three to five hectares of available land where it will be built. NOT LEAVING OTHER SECTORS BEHIND Although Ortega was consistent in his initiatives focusing on youth, he assures LEAGUE that he is not leaving other sectors behind. In fact, Ortega’s staff vouched for his efforts in helping the people of La Union when it comes to their medical needs. “Dinidiskartehan talaga niya (he really finds ways),” one of his staff said. Ortega reveals that when their medical assistance program opened to the public, many cases can only be catered to by specialty hospitals like the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) and Philippine Heart Center. Although they were able to provide enough funds for the provincial and district hospitals, some procedures that the constituents needed were still not available. With this, Ortega sought the help of the Department of Health (DOH) for funds to shoulder the medical needs of residents referred to specialty hospitals. “That’s one aspect of the congressman’s job. Aside from legislations, we have to be effective in lobbying because you are securing assistance for your district,” Ortega says, adding that almost half of his constituents who visit his office every day have medical concerns, and this initiative has been very helpful to them. As long as there are remaining funds, they extend the help to accommodate the entire region. Aside from this initiative, Ortega authored House Bill (HB) 06901, preventing the increase of adolescent pregnancy by pushing for the availability of modern contraceptives to girls aged 10 to 14. This is to acknowledge the country’s societal problem of teenage pregnancy and to educate the youth on how the bill can protect them. HB 06901 was chosen as the final substitute bill for the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act, which is still pending on the Congress’ Committee on Youth And Sports Development’s end. Another remarkable contribution Ortega left during his term as a provincial board member is the staggered incentives for centenarians, which is now being implemented in the first district of the province. According to the Centenarians Act of 2016, Filipinos who reach 100 years old and above are entitled to Php100,000. But Ortega pushed for staggered incentives for soon-to-be centenarians so they can receive and make use of their benefits while waiting for their centennial birthday celebration. ‘PAO-WERFUL’ KIND OF SERVICE When asked to describe his leadership style, Ortega defines it as adaptive, responsive, and consultative. Adaptive because he still uses what he learned from the previous public leaders. At the same time, he makes sure that he is responsive because people, especially the youth, nowadays want everything done fast, and he’s eager to keep up with his constituents of all ages. Another thing that sets Ortega apart from others is that he has set his own timeline in public service. “Hindi ko ma-imagine ‘yung sarili ko na parang ‘yung mga older na mga Ortegas na 30 years, 45 years (I can’t imagine myself eventually becoming like the older Ortegas who have been in public service for 30 years, 45 years),” Ortega admits. Setting a deadline for himself works as a reminder to not waste any opportunity so he can walk away anytime, fulfilled that he has done his best. Being a congressman is not a monotonous endeavor but is always dynamic, relying on collective input and consideration of different perspectives of the people. Ortega emphasizes the importance of the public’s assistance, even in the smallest of ways, to support their elected representatives. “Usually sila ‘yung nanghihingi ng tulong, so ako hihingi ng tulong na suportahan ninyo ‘to, na tulungan niyo kami, na ganito ang gawin niyo. ‘Yun din ang message ko sa kanila na tulungan nila ako kasi nga ‘pag tinulungan nila ako, mas marami akong matutulungang tao (Usually, it’s them who ask for help, so I will ask for their help too, to support us, to help us, to do this certain thing. That is also my message to them, to help me, because if they do, I will be able to help more people),” the congressman says. “This is what it means to have a ‘PAO-werful’ service, calling upon the people to lend their support and aid in making a greater impact. If they do, together, our collaborative efforts can transform our district for good,” Ortega concludes.”

< Back Architect Felino Palafox Jr. “In areas prone to flooding, let houses be built to float or built on stilts, elevate the electrical system, and interconnect the buildings with elevated walkways and elevated monorails.” BY MAIELLE MONTAYRE PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL SORIANO Rome was not built in a day; it took some time and judicious urban planning. Now, take a look at Metro Manila, a booming metropolis. Tall buildings and condominiums rise to occupy empty lots and dot the skyline. Road works, repairs, and construction of flyovers and bridges appear at each street corner. Signs of progress can be seen everywhere, but do these address the perennial heavy traffic, lack of public transport, and constant flooding in the metro?Architect and Urban Planner Felino A. Palafox, Jr. sheds light on the basics and purpose of urban planning. LAYING THE FOUNDATION Founded in 1989, Palafox Associates is one of the country’s top architecture firms today. In 1999, it was the first Filipino architectural firm cited in the World’s Top 500 Architectural Firms of the London-based World Architecture magazine. Over the years, the firm has received more than 200 awards and recognitions. It has accomplished more than 1,510 projects in 40 countries, overseen the planning of 25 billion square meters of land, and designed the architecture of 12 million square meters of building floor area. Palafox himself has worked as Architect-Urban Planner with Ayala Corporation and Ayala Land, Inc. From 1977 to 1981, he was name-hired by Sultan Khalifa Al Habtoor of Dubai, UAE as Senior Urban Planner-Architect working in a multinational and interdisciplinary team. He was the only Southeast Asian and the youngest professional. “My best experience in urban planning was in Dubai. I was hired to help bring Dubai to the first world in less than 15 years,” Palafox says. Urban planning is a weighty concept covering several aspects. It begins with determining land use, then conceptualizing the infrastructures and circulation routes necessary for transportation and utilities. The firm then proposes road transport corridors; that is, one-third of the road cross-section should be designated for trees and landscaping, one-third for pedestrians and bicycles, and the remaining third as traffic lanes for vehicles. “It takes a minimum of 10 trees to recover the oxygen of the carbon monoxide per car. For larger vehicles like buses and SUVs, they should plant more trees per car,” Palafox points out. Apart from this, urban planning also involves housing for its residents and managing urban sprawl. It also touches on urban design concerning the aesthetics of architecture, landscapes, and open spaces. Another aspect involves healing the city through risk and disaster management. “It is 90% cheaper to address the hazards before they become disasters, aside from saving human lives and infrastructures. It is 10 times more expensive to do rehabilitation,” Palafox stresses. Urban planning also addresses economic development by taking care of jobs and businesses. Thus, it covers a wide range of disciplines. Click here to read full article for free

< Back Bracing for the Big One Though situated in a disaster-prone zone (600 meters away from the fault line), Barangay San Antonio, Pasig, under the leadership of Chairman Joselito Dela Merced, is more than ready to take on the ‘Big One’ BY KRISTEL DACUMOS-LAGORZA PHOTOGRAPHY BY RENJIE TOLENTINO With thousands of Filipinos in its fold and under its protection, Barangay San Antonio (BSA) positions itself as a small yet powerful unit. It encompasses much of the Ortigas Center Business District, including the Philippine Stock Exchange, University of Asia & the Pacific, Discovery Suites, Astoria Plaza, and various high-rise condominium and office buildings. Thanks to its unique location, smack in the middle of a thriving business district and tight-knit community, BSA has been able to reap success and build for itself a strong foundation. But is it unshakeable? Here is where BSA finds itself in another predicament. Situated just 600 meters from the fault line, is BSA ready to take on the “Big One,” the impending earthquake, which scientists have for years been warning the metro to brace itself for? And Barangay Chairman Joselito P. Dela Merced proudly and confidently says yes! “Since the very beginning, my program has always been focused on disaster preparedness and protection, as well as peace and order. From the ambulances to the drills and our emergency response teams, we are fully equipped. We also regularly host seminars in different condos and residential villages to inform, educate, and train,” says Dela Merced proudly, adding that during these seminars they’ve also given away emergency kits. PROUD TO SERVE Since 1967, the chairman has been serving the local government, first working as a kagawad at 20 years old. “Even then, the committee that I always handled was Peace and Order,” he says proudly. His father was a colonel in the military who later joined the security team responsible for the late Senator Jose Zulueta. De la Merced would follow in his father’s footsteps – not becoming a colonel – but serving the same senator as security detail. He later joined the Criminal Investigation Services group under Zulueta, who became governor of Iloilo. Continuing his line of work under former president, Ferdinand Marcos, Dela Merced was chosen to be part of the elite force of police and military men known as the Metrocom, before continuing to work under Congressman Roquito Ablan in Ilocos Norte. Looking back on his past, Dela Merced says, “From working in those different roles and duties, I’ve learned that kung walang peace and order, walang uusad. Gusto ko talaga tahimik at mapayapa ang barangay.” ROAD TO PEACE In 2007, Dela Merced was elected as barangay chairman and his first order of business was cleaning up his turf. To quell the issue of drugs and criminality, the barangay initiated community drug rehab, offered financial assistance for education to out-of-school youth, and established the Kooperatiba ng Pagpapautang ng San Antonio, Pasig, or KPSAP. “The BSA-KPSAP aims to provide employment opportunities for members of the barangay through micro and small business options. The KPSAP initiative was primarily intended to promote a sustainable environment where people can make a decent source of income that will afford them a higher standard of living,” he explains. As part of the program, the barangay has allotted prime space for entrepreneurs for free to sell their wares. “To date, we have helped over 200 members,” he says, beaming with pride. “By giving them an opportunity to better their lives, many of the members are able to keep themselves and their families out of trouble.” Click here to read full article for free

< Back THOUGHT LEADERS The new CCP president is up for the challenge of developing the 41-hectare CCP Complex into not just an Art Center, but a sustainable economic hub BY MARIDOL RANOA-BISMARK PHOTOGRAPHY BY MANUEL GENEROSO If he were a film, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) president Arsenio ‘Nick’ Lizaso would be an adventure series packed with Indiana Jones-like scenes. He’s like a bouncing ball that ricochets everywhere, packing in a lot of power along the way. Lizaso may be 83. But he’s anything but a doddering senior. He goes for less talk, more action. Even in his free time, he’d rather swing his tennis racket and hit that ball, rather than wait for things to happen in the Greenhills condominium that he shares with his lovely wife Belen. He took up the sport at the mature age of 56, and surprised even himself by becoming a two-time Wimbledon champ. “I’m a late bloomer in the sport,” he chuckles. But this is not the case in the world of arts, which he has embraced as a way of life and and a birthright. The maternal grandson of Balagtasan King Jose Corazon de Jesus a.k.a. Huseng Batute has been breathing art since he was a boy who sat mesmerized on the church patio in his native Sta. Maria, Bulacan, staring at a USIS service jeep. The jeep’s projector showed film on the cycle of water. Lizaso recalls every detail of the film as if he saw it only yesterday. “Water from the sea is raised by the wind into the sky. Clouds hold it until it can’t keep the water any longer. Then, it falls as rain on the trees, the rivers, etc. Then it goes back to sea.” Now that the awe-struck boy who ran like the wind and jumped pell-mell into pieces of broken glass is a man, that image has refused to go away. The USIS jeep is Lizaso’s inspiration for CCP on Wheels. ART FOR THE MASSES Tapping on his gift of gab and a passion for the arts, Lizaso got a donation for a brand-new bus from Victory Liner the very next day after he visited the giant transportation firm. The bus comes with a huge LED screen (seven feet by 14 feet) on one side that shows ballet, symphony, and other cultural shows. The bus, with a mini-library inside, tours the entire country, spreading the gospel of art, not to the elite who can afford expensive shows in Manila, but to the masses who live in the provinces. >> > CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE !! FOR FREE!

97ee55c1-6ba5-4a26-875a-ad223dffac58 < BACK DHSUD SECRETARY EDUARDO DEL ROSARIO With him at the helm, DHSUD Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario is confident that every Filipino’s right to decent and affordable housing will be realized. BY JOYCE REYES-AGUILA PHOTOGRAPHY BY RENJIE TOLENTINO It was a simple Philippine Military Academy (PMA) shirt that ultimately started to inspire Eduardo “Ed” Drueco Del Rosario to try his luck at entering the country’s most prestigious school for Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) aspirants. Del Rosario’s brother-in-law had traveled with his sister to Baguio City and gifted him with it when he was in fifth or sixth grade. That gesture lit a fire in Del Rosario. “Because of that, joining the military organization became a dream,” the now-retired major general tells LEAGUE. “I was enticed to think that if ever I’d join a military organization and experience the hardships of training, I would rather go straight to the Philippine Military Academy.” Years passed since that fateful day and del Rosario had all but forgotten about his dream—that was until a seatmate in one of his classes at the Adamson University in Manila (where he was taking up mechanical engineering) came to class with an application form for a PMA cadetship. The young del Rosario applied and successfully hurdled the school’s physical and medical examinations. “The Academy calls for one’s determination,” says del Rosario. The member of the PMA Mapitagan Class of 1980 adds, “If you are not determined, it’s not for you. [It’s the] key to cadetship.” FRIEND OF THE LUMADS After graduation, Del Rosario served in the military for 37 years. His career began as a member of the Special Forces Regiment in his hometown of Nueva Ecija where he served from 1981 to 1989. In 1990, he was appointed battery commander of the 8th Field Artillery Battery of the 8th Infantry Division in Catbalogan City, Samar. He held other positions prior to his appointment as Battalion Commander of the 73rd Infantry Battalion of the 10th Infantry Division in Davao City in the early 2000s. In 2004, Del Rosario became commander of Task Force Davao and led the revival of the counter-insurgency program Alsa Lumad that mobilized the members of the indigenous community against the New People’s Army (NPA). Del Rosario describes this period in Davao City’s history as the “hottest in as far as the presence of the NPA rebels is concerned.” He shares, “During my first two, three months, I felt that we would never be successful in our campaign against [them] if the mass base or Lumads who live in the countryside—about 24 percent of the [city’s] population—would not support the campaign of the armed forces.” The now-retired major general reveals he understood then that the Lumads’ knowledge of the terrain made them ideal fighters against the rebels. To get the support of the indigenous people, del Rosario sought to empower them and invite them to work with the government. As Task Force Davao commander, he dialogued with prominent Lumad leaders. He requested them to conduct a workshop on their culture for his detachment and company commanders toward better understanding. A year after del Rosario’s arrival in Davao City, the Lumads severed their blood compact with the NPA. “They had a blood compact with us—my military officers and my soldiers,” he reveals. “I invited every tribe leader so they would be represented in our Supreme Tribal Council for Peace and Development, Inc. (STCPD). In that way, we were able to organize and empower them in the process by bringing services of other government agencies to the Lumads.” The STCPD was launched with five major Lumad tribes in Davao to unify and strengthen relations, as well as to promote peace and development. The cooperation between the two parties benefited peace and security in the area, where six out of eight persons in a rebel group in the Visayas are Lumads, according to del Rosario. “We were able to drive away the NPA rebels from Davao City,” he says. “My area of operation extended to Davao del Norte. Because of the peaceful environment in the city from 2002 to 2006 and the Alsa Lumad, they themselves started running after the NPA rebels. We enticed their relatives to go back to the fold of the law. I think about 67 [rebels] surrendered and 46 firearms were given to us during my time.” “We were able to overcome the negative sentiments of the Lumads [toward] soldiers,” del Rosario adds. “In the end, we became brothers.” The tribal chieftains baptized del Rosario as “Datu Limbotong,” which means “protector of the Lumad’s interest” in 2002. In 2006, del Rosario briefly served as AFP Joint Special Operations Group commander in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. He moved to Samar to become the commander of the 803rd Infantry Brigade for two years and as assistant division commander in 2009. In the same year, then-Brigadier General del Rosario returned to Davao City, upon the request of then-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who had a disagreement with del Rosario’s predecessor. In his new role, the official would visit remote barangays with Duterte and assist in matters relating to peace and security. As commander of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, he reactivated the recruitment of indigenous people into the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) during his second stint in the locale. Today, he believes that the Lumads are “stronger than ever because of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), with Secretary [Allen] Capuyan (who is also a Lumad leader himself) heading it. The organization is very strong in four or five regions in Mindanao and [now operates] nationwide.” Del Rosario adds that at least 63 percent or between 15 to 17 million of the total Lumad population in the country are from Mindanao. In 2011, Brigadier General del Rosario was promoted to the rank of major general by then-President Benigno Aquino 3rd. He would also be recognized by Aquino with the Bakas Parangal ng Kabayanihan for leading the search and retrieval operations for the remains of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo who perished in a plane crash in Masbate in 2012. The award is given to “individuals or groups who have exerted exemplary and extraordinary acts of selflessness in reaching out to those who are in urgent need of assistance in times of calamities and disasters,” according to the Office of Civil Defense website. Del Rosario served as the commanding general of the 2nd Infantry Division in Tanay, Rizal prior to his mandatory retirement in November 2012. Continuous public service Del Rosario joined the civilian government after stepping away from the armed forces. He believes that the public service required in the military is at a “higher level” as they have to “go after the lawless elements and risk even your life in the process.” Del Rosario opines that in the civilian government, what is asked is to focus on public service that will help improve living conditions in the country. President Duterte initially offered Del Rosario to be an undersecretary for military affairs in Malacañang when he assumed office in 2016. The retired military officer coursed his request to be designated undersecretary for civil and veteran affairs under the Department of National Defense (DND) instead through Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, which the President approved. A year after, he was asked by the Palace to chair the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). “It’s very simple,” Del Rosario says of his marching orders from the President. “Just help in the need for housing of the general public, most especially the underserved sector; and ensure that the housing units being constructed by the government will not be substandard.” He added, “When the President gives his trust and confidence, he gives it fully to you. But you must be answerable, and your output must speak for itself.” One of the most important positions del Rosario holds is being chairman of Task Force Bangon Marawi, where he oversees the rehabilitation of Marawi City after its five-month siege in 2017. He reports that the rehabilitation will be completed by December 2021, adhering to the master development plan. “Initially, President Duterte wanted to complete everything by December 2021,” shares Del Rosario, who stays in Marawi City for three days each month. “[But there have been] intervening challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, access to funds, and cultural and social [factors]. Rehabilitating a city that was totally destroyed is very complex. It’s not just a 50-hectare property that you will transform into a housing project. It’s so different because of the internal intricacies, complexities. [You learn] how to deal with people, regulations, personalities, culture, the social aspects of everything you do, intrigues, the presence of militant organizations, and so forth.” Del Rosario targets having checks and balances to ensure transparency in the rehabilitation efforts, and “to dispel the intrigues and suspicion.” He maintains, “They were saying that billions of dollars, millions of pesos were given for the rehabilitation. [If] they will ask me if we received anything from the United States government, not a single centavo. How do they (the Americans) do it? They give it to the non-government organizations (NGOs) and the NGOs will coordinate with the local government unit.” To address any doubts, he is keen on driving for “convergence and understanding on the flow of money” for the rehabilitation. “Everything is given directly to the implementing agencies,” he insists. “That’s why I encourage third-party monitoring to ensure that the implementing agencies are doing their jobs, that there is transparency. But for them to accuse me, I think they are barking up the wrong tree.” According to the chairman, Marawi City is envisioned to become a tourist destination in Mindanao. Efforts are aimed to serve as a catalyst for growth and sustainable development, be a template for good governance and become a place where a peaceful environment prevails. “The infrastructure [development] we have done will be nothing if there will be no peaceful environment at the end of the day,” he submits. A sports complex, convention center, school of living tradition, a grand market, a museum, and a promenade are among the pillars of the development of the city. Its lake will also be a venue for water sports. Del Rosario became secretary of the newly formed Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) in 2019. He considers the passing of the bill to create the agency as “a gift from President Duterte to the 81 percent of Filipino families who wish to have a house of their own.” “As a guiding principle in housing, I am telling my officials and employees that we must always consider shelter as a right of every Filipino family. Home ownership is an option. You may opt to buy a house or you may opt to just rent a house,” he explains. A survey says that the remaining 19 percent are happy to rent living spaces, according to the department secretary. The DHSUD focuses on socialized housing offers for low-income families who can obtain homes worth Php480,000 (24 square meters), Php530,000 (28 square meters) or Php580,000 (32 square meters). These can be availed of with a three-percent annual interest rate with PAG-IBIG (Home Development Mutual Fund). His office and the National Housing Authority (NHA) also refurbished some units of the AFP-PNP housing program built by the previous administration. It is now being offered to barangay officials and informal settlers in the local government units where they are located. According to del Rosario, the DHSUD integrates three major components: regulation, finance, and production (along with the NHA). The new department merged the functions of HUDCC and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB). “We are the youngest department in the bureaucracy,” he says. “We are experiencing birth pains. We are now moving forward, and we can say that after one year and six months, we are now ready. We have now crafted the 20-year roadmap of the department.” The DHSUD is also working with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to provide housing for farmers. It is partnering with LGUs and DAR for land allocation and development. Farmers will pay 30 percent lower fees for their homes, as the cost will not include the land and development. “We consider housing as a right of every Filipino,” he avers. “The president considers shelter as the embodiment of a family. We are doing our best to capacitate low-income families to pay through the price ceiling and different modalities that we would like to impose so the burden of paying will be more doable.” Del Rosario says the principle of organizational structure that he learned in his decades of military service is being applied to his positions in civilian government. “It’s very important because when you organize, tasks are clear. There must be discipline in the implementation of your programs. The military organization is so structured that there are levels of responsibility. Here, we are applying that. I would like to inculcate in the minds of the personnel that each level must have a level of responsibility. I have been telling them, if I will be made responsible for everything that we do or fail to do, let’s follow instructions from the top that must be followed hanggang dulo (until the last part of the organization). “I like to listen, then make my decision. I like to be advised, especially [since] I do not know everything. But once I make my decision, I want everybody to follow. If you don’t want to follow, come to me and explain why. I will be open. Maybe I will be enlightened. But if there is no basis, then I will tell you to stop that,” the housing chair says simply Secretary del Rosario would like his department to be a paradigm for ease of doing business as this minimizes corruption and enables them to deliver greater service to the public. How does he measure his office’s reach? The secretary would like the public to be proud of what his office has done. “Face everybody straight in the eye and in the eyes of God, our country, and our people, and be able to say that we have done our job well to the best of our ability,” he concludes.

< Back "BRIGADA ESKWELA 2025" BY TREISHA C. ROVERO The Department of Education (DepEd) has officially launched Brigada Eskwela 2025, a nationwide effort to prepare public schools for the new school year. Running from June 9 to 13, this year’s theme is “Sama-sama para sa Bayang Bumangon,” emphasizing community unity. Volunteers—including teachers, parents, students, and local groups— join hands to clean, repair, and beautify school facilities to create safe learning spaces. DepEd and partners encourage eco-friendly practices, urging the use of non-toxic cleaners and waste reduction. The EcoWaste Coalition supports these efforts to protect the environment.

< Back NUCLEAR SCIENCE IN ACTION BY TREISHA C. ROVERO DISCOVER HOW THE PHILIPPINE NUCLEAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PNRI) IS HARNESSING NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY FOR INNOVATION AND PROGRESS. FROM RESEARCH AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS TO GROUNDBREAKING MEDICAL ADVANCEMENTS LIKE THE UPCOMING PET SCAN FACILITY, PNRI IS SHAPING A SAFER, MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR NUCLEAR ADVANCEMENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES. Few Filipinos are aware that the Philippines has a nuclear power plant in Bataan. This facility, built decades ago, was envisioned as a solution to make electricity more affordable and accessible for the country. However, public opinion on its safety became divided, particularly regarding the risks posed by natural calamities, especially in Bataan. As a result, the plant’s operations were halted, and it has remained dormant for so long. While the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant lies idle, a small yet active reactor operates in Quezon City. At the heart of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) complex, nuclear technology is being utilized for research, education, and industry. Join us as we explore the innovative facilities within PNRI’s premises. PHILIPPINE RESEARCH REACTOR-1 (PRR-1) The Philippine Research Reactor-1 (PRR-1) holds the distinction of being the country’s first and only operational nuclear reactor, which ran from 1963 until its decommissioning in 1988. Established under the US Atoms for Peace Program, it marked the Philippines’ initial foray into nuclear energy. To maximize the use of the stored fuel elements from PRR-1, the PNRI launched the PRR-1 Subcritical Assembly for Training, Education, and Research (PRR-1 SATER). This small, zero-power reactor is designed for research, education, and nuclear-related training purposes. PRR-1 SATER showcases how nuclear technology can be harnessed safely for scientific advancement. PHILGAMMA Another key facility at PNRI is PHILGamma, a multipurpose gamma irradiation facility operated by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). This facility uses Cobalt-60, a radioactive source submerged in water, which emits a glowing blue light due to the phenomenon known as Cherenkov radiation. PHILGamma provides gamma irradiation services to various industries. It effectively eliminates microorganisms, sterilizes products, and decontaminates materials such as dried herbs, spices, and cosmetic raw ingredients. Unlike traditional sterilization methods, gamma irradiation ensures that food retains its flavor and quality. Impressively, products can even be treated while in their final packaging, showcasing the process’ efficiency and safety. ELECTRON BEAM IRRADIATION FACILITY PNRI also houses an Electron Beam Irradiation Facility (EBIF), established in 2014. This facility offers state-of-the-art services using high-voltage electron beams to sterilize medical and pharmaceutical goods. Beyond sterilization, the facility supports advancements in material science. It also enables degradation for recycling (breaking down materials for reuse), polymer crosslinking (enhancing the properties of polymer-based products, such as making wires flame-resistant or forming heat-shrinkable tubing), and liquid irradiation (treating liquid products for various industrial applications). These capabilities position PNRI as a hub for innovation, offering solutions for industries ranging from healthcare to manufacturing. While the dream of a fully operational nuclear power plant in the Philippines remains uncertain, facilities like those inside the PNRI demonstrate the country’s ability to harness nuclear technology responsibly and innovatively. Whether through research reactors, gamma irradiation, or electron beam technology, PNRI highlights the potential of nuclear science to improve lives and industries. WHAT LIES AHEAD PNRI is currently working on introducing a PET scan facility powered by nuclear technology. It aims to provide diagnostic imaging that can detect early signs of diseases including cancer, neurological disorders, and heart conditions. The facility will be using radioisotopes that will generate highly detailed images of biological processes within the body. It will be used to highlight any abnormal metabolic activity in cells providing accuracy in diagnosis. Once this project becomes operational, it will make PET scan more accessible to Filipinos and leverage nuclear technology in the country.